DSCEMBER l8, I9091
THE BLERIOT CROSS<CHANNEL MONUMENT.
IMMEDIATELY following the historical feat of M. Louis
Bleriot in crossing the Channel on his aeroplane, the Aero
Club of the U.K. determined to erect a memorial at .or
near the spot where the intrepid aviator first alighted on
British soil. By the courtesy of the Aero Club we are
enabled this week to reproduce a plan of this memorial,
the cost of which Mr. Alexander Duckham, with such
splendid generosity, offered to defray and present to the
Aero Club of the U.K.
The design is a full size plan »f the actual machine
used by Bleriot and is to be reproduced by granite slabs
placed on the actual site of the landing. It should make
an appropriate and lasting memorial to one of the greatest
events in history, and in the obvious stability of the scheme-
selected we seem to see something symbolical of the
future of flight when it shall at last have emerged from
its present stage.
It is singularly fitting that the landing place should
have been selected as the site for the memorial, inasmuch
as there is, in the Forest of Guines, another memorial
commemorating the first Channel crossing made in a
balloon. This was erected by the French Government
to Blanchard, a Frenchman, "who alighted there after a
most perilous passage on January 7th, 1785. during which
he and his companion Dr. Jeffries, an Englishman, were
thrice nearly immersed in the sea.
Jeffries received little credit and less reward for his-
part in the proceeding, which was of a principal character,
and it is all the more a matter for appreciation on. this
account that someone should have come forward With
such rare promptitude to give public evidence of that
recognition of Louis Bleriot's performance, which it is so
characteristic of the British to sincerely feel in thei*
hearts, to promptly acknowledge by word of mouth, but
to leave over to posterity for embodiment in a sign.
That the memorial has aroused Government recognition,
is likewise gratifying, the War Office having given official
consent to the use of the site selected.
AVIATORS AND PUPILS AT MOURMELON.—A warm between flights.Hubert Latham, Lee Guinness, • , Somers Somerset,
812
From left to right, Messrs. Harkoess*., and Duray.